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Dimapur, Jan. 24 (EMN): India observes 10th National Voters Day today, Friday, with the theme ‘Electoral literacy for a stronger democracy.’ It is observed every year since 2011 to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, which was established on January 25, 1950.
National Voters Day is observed to encourage, spread awareness, facilitate and maximise enrolment, especially for new voters to participate in the electoral process.
An extra assistant commissioner (EAC) of Nagaland, who did not wish to be named, said that in the context of Nagaland, votes have become a 'sellable commodity'. "You can sell a vote for INR 5000 or INR 10000 and even for a bottle of liquor," the official said.
On National Voters Day, ‘The young generation must be enlightened about their responsibility as citizens, and to exercise their franchise as they are our future,’ the official said. "They can clean up the mess that we have created till now and it is high time to clean up the system," he added.
The official said they should have positive thoughts about the future, and has appealed to young voters to be straight and positive, and to take the lead. He urged them to not be 'swayed away' by negative things around them as the future rests on them.
He went on to advise the young new voters to check for their EPIC card until it reaches them as it might end up in the wrong hands who might misuse them.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, a young man said that his parents had submitted the registration form for him at his village the previous year, but has not received any update till date.
When asked about the voting system in the state, he said people talk about one’s right to exercise adult franchise and vote whomever they wish to. But it all comes down to the family, clan and village especially in the rural areas. "Unless we change our mindset, it will be very difficult to practice true adult franchise," he said.
Speaking to this newspaper, a theologian who has registered her name in the electoral roll said she is very excited to be part of the adult franchise. She mentioned that as a Christian, she will definitely follow the right path to vote, and vote for the right person in the coming election, also adding that the EPIC card is very important for documentation.
The 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) general election 2018 witnessed 196 candidates contesting for elections, out of which 15 fresh candidates managed to enter into the political arena.
Nagaland recorded 75 per cent voter turnout while Dimapur registered the least voter turnout at 70 per cent during the 13th general election 2018.
During the NLA elections that were conducted on February 27 2018, the total amount of money spent by the 196 candidates was a whopping INR 10,61,09,25, according to a post-election watch report released by a group, YouthNet.